This summer, Formentera's visiting cruise ships must steer clear of posidonia

foto sea cloud IIThe department of environment of the Formentera Council reports that this summer, cruise ships that tie up in the island's waters must do it outside la Savina port's zone two. The measure can be traced to 2015, when the Council began advocating for posidonia preservation.

Environment secretary Daisee Aguilera spoke cheerily about a measure “offering the renewed promise of balancing tourism-driven cruise ship traffic with posidonia safeguards”. She also thanked agencies like the Balearic Islands port authority and harbour master's office and Verlio, an Eivissan shipping agent, for their engagement in the effort.

The first cruise ship to anchor in nearby waters this season will be Sea Cloud II, a 117-metre vessel whose arrival is scheduled for this Friday. Two more have stops planned this summer. To avoid damage to the seagrass meadows, all three ships will anchor one nautical mile northwest of the port in a sandy bottomed area of water 40 metres deep.